Unnecessary Hostility

It is often worthwhile to check the "Islam" section of the Arab News. It often contains some edifying piece like, for example, a Saudi sheikh explaining the correct way to beat your wife.

In today's on-line version, I found an article entitled "Unnecessary Hostility". I found the title quite ironic: the hostility referred to is that of the Jews of Medina to the prophet Mohammed. The term "Unnecessary Hostility" could also, however, be used to describe the Arabic attitude to modern day Jews.

They might argue the "unnecessary" part, but the "hostility" is certainly true.

One of the interesting facts about this article is that it was written by Sayyid Qutb, chief ideologue of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and author of extremely influential book "Milestones". Let me quote a little from the Wikipedia article on Sayyid Qutb:-

... has contributed significantly to modern perceptions of Islamic concepts such as jihad, jahiliyyah, and ummah. In the West he sometimes described as "the man whose ideas would shape Al Qaeda.

and from the Wikipedia article on his work "Milestones":-

Commentators have both praised Milestones as a ground-breaking, inspirational work by a hero and a martyr, and reviled it as a prime example of unreasoning entitlement, self-pity, paranoia, and hatred that has been a major influence on Islamist terrorism.

Interesting choice of author for their section on Islam!

The article itself describes the "hostility" of the three Jewish tribes of Medina to the Prophet Mohammed. It also describes the expulsion of two of these tribes: the Banu Qaynuqa and the Banu Nadir.

It omits, however, the fate of the third Jewish tribe: the Banu Qurayza. When they surrendered to the tender mercies of the early Muslims, all the adult male members of the tribe were executed (some 600 or 700 men) and the women and children enslaved. Unnecessary hostility indeed!